'Not enough midwives' for new NICE guidelines

13 May 2014 Last updated at 10:18 BST

"Many more" midwives are needed to cope with draft guidelines that suggest healthy women should be encouraged to give birth in a midwife-led unit or at home, the Royal College of Midwives' Louise Silverton has said.

Ms Silverton nevertheless remained in support of the advice suggested by NICE - the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence - and agreed that a home birth would be "as safe" as in a traditional labour ward for low-risk pregnancies.

Maureen Treadwell, head of research at the British Trauma Association, told the Today programme that there is "strong evidence" that the majority of women want to give birth where doctors and emergency facilities are available.